Cooper-Standard Automotive Announces Four Plant Manager Promotions

NOVI, Mich., June 5 -- Cooper Tire & Rubber Company announces the appointment of four new plant managers in its Cooper-Standard Automotive North American operations.

Scott Keys has been appointed to the position of plant manager at the company's Surgoinsville, Tenn., North American Fluid Systems plant. Keys attended General Motors Institute where he received a Bachelor of Industrial Administration Degree with a major in Production Management. He joined the company in 1995 as an operations manager in Georgetown, Ontario, Canada. Keys continued to progress through the company in Canada including operations manager and plant manager in Stratford, Ontario. In November 2000, Keys was appointed as plant manager in the Gaylord, Mich., facility.

Brian Samkowiak replaces Scott Keys as plant manager at the Gaylord, Mich., location. Samkowiak attended Kennedy-Western University in Thousand Oaks, Calif. where he received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a major in Quality Assurance. He joined the company in 1979 and has held several technical positions in both Engineering and Quality, most recently as quality assurance manager and manufacturing manager at the Gaylord, Mich., plant.

Dennis Brewington has been promoted to plant manager at the North American Sealing Systems location in Griffin, Ga. Brewington attended Mount Olive College in Mount Olive, N. Carolina, where he received a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Business Management. Brewington also has a Degree in Industrial Engineering Technology. He joined the Company in 1988 as an industrial engineering technician. During Brewington's career at Cooper- Standard Automotive, he has held several technical positions including process engineer, chief industrial engineer, manufacturing manager and, most recently, as operations manager in the Griffin, Ga., plant.

Jim Keller has moved to the position of plant manager at the North American Fluid Systems division location in Bowling Green, Ohio. Keller attended Bowling Green State University where he earned a Master of Business Administration Degree. He joined Cooper Tire & Rubber Company in 1983 as a purchasing intern. During Keller's career at Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, he has also performed the roles of a corporate material buyer, manager of Corporate Equipment Purchasing, managing director for Singapore and, most recently, as vice president of Purchasing.

Company Description

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is headquartered in Findlay, Ohio, and specializes in the manufacture and marketing of automotive products. Products for Cooper Tire include automotive, motorcycle and truck tires, inner tubes, tread rubber and equipment. Cooper-Standard Automotive is an original equipment supplier of sealing, trim, NVH control systems and fluid handling systems for the automotive industry in North America, Europe, Australia and South America. Cooper has more than 20,000 employees and 52 manufacturing facilities in 13 countries. For more information, visit the Company's web site at: www.coopertire.com